Seat or chair



March 24, 1931. c. R. HULTGREN 1,797,829

SEAT 0R CHAIR File Aug- 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 it CZ arch 24, 1931. RHULT REN v SEAT OR CHAIR Filed Aug. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V jzflazzffi' W I ma CHARLES R. HULTGREN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGIIOR.TO S. KAEPEN &

Patented Mar. 24, 1931 1230s., or

CI-IICAGQ, ILLINQIS, A CORPORATION WEST VIRGINIA SEAT OR CHAIR This invention relates particularly to a seat or chair provided with an adjustable back. The primary object is to provide an improved construction in a device of this type, having provision for the locking of the back securely in any desired position of ad justment.

The invention is well adapted for use, for example, in connection with bus seats. It may be embodied ina drivers seat, if desired.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings,

in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view (shown partly in section) of a chair embodying the invention; Fig. 2, is a broken transverse section on a large scale taken as indicated at line 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a bottom plan view of the chair, the treadle employed being shown brokenly; Fig. 4, an enlarged broken sectional view taken as indicated at line 4 of Fig. 3, showing the device in locked condition; Fig. 5, a similar View showing the de vice in unlocked condition; Fig. 6, a broken vertical longitudinal section taken as indicated at line 6 ofFig. 3, showing the device in locked condition; Fig. 7, a sectional view showing the device in unlocked condition; and Fig. 8, a sectional view of the pivotal connection taken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated, A designates the body of a chair; B, a back which has pivotal support, as indicated at 1; and C, back-locking mechanism housed beneath the seat of the chair.

The body A of the chair may be of any suitable construction. It is shown as comprising a bottom, or seat 2 supported on legs 3 and equipped with arms 4. The arms 4 are shown as comprising tubular members 4 which are of inverted U form and suitably secured to the seat. The arms are covered, in the illustration given, by a reed covering t. The frame is shown equipped also with a housing 4: which extends about the seat 2 and which is adapted to contain a cushion (not shown). The housing 4 constitutes a continuance of the reed construction.

The back B is shown as comprising a metal bar which is suitably bent'to conform to the desired outline of the back. -This bar is of inverted U-shape, having an upper web-portion at 5, and having depending arms 5, which are connected some distance above their lower ends with the pivots 1.. Any

suitable pivoted connections may be em-- ployed at the points 1. A detail such as shown in Fig. 8 may be employed at this point, if desired. Such detail comprises a pivot bolt extending through the tubular member 4 and equipped with.plates, or washers, as indicated at 6.

The lower ends of'the arms 5 project a distance below the pivot points 1 and extend through slots 7 with which seat 2 is provided at its rear corners.

The device C which controls the adjustment of the back and serves to lock it in any desired position, is shown ascomprising a yoke 8 having rearwardly divergent arms which are connectedby pivots 9 with the lower extremities of the arms 5" of the back; a toothed or serrated plunger 10, which is connected at its front end by a pivot 11 with the front ends of the arms comprising the yoke 8; a guide-plate 12 secured by screws 13 to the surface of the bottom 2, the plate 12 having a dependent hollow member 12 provided with a guide-passage 12 through which the plunger 10 works freely; and a treadle 14. having its. rear end equipped with an upwardly extending arm 14% which is pivotally supported at its upper end on a pin 15 which extends transversely across the tubular member 12?. The arm 14 hasoextending therethrough beneath the pivot 15 a bore through which plunger 10 extends.

In the illustration given, the plunger 10 is provided with a thread 10*, which afiords serrations or teeth. The bore which extends through the arm 14 is shown provided with toothed portions 16and17, which may con.- stitute portions of threads cut in the bore. In the positions shown in Fig. 6, the threaded portions 16 and 17 interlockingly engage the thread of the plunger 10. The walls of the bore through the member 14 arecut away at points 18 and 19 in such manner as to permit the arm 14* to swing rearwardly J an 'sition shown in Fig. 6.

about the pivot 15, thus lifting the toothed portions 16 and 17 of the bore out of engagement with the threads of the member 10. If desired, the desired construction of the bore through the member 14 may be effected by first making a straight bore through the member and tapping the same, and then boring through the metal on an angle in such manner as to cut away portions of the teeth of the bore, thus producing the recesses 18 and 19 which permit the interlocking action to occur when the front end of the bar 14 is swung downwardly.

The front end portion of the bar or treadle 14, extends freely through a stirrup 20 which depends from the front portion of the seat-member 2, and the front extremity of the bar is equipped with a foot piece 21. The bar 14 is connected by a strong coil-spring 22 to the seat-member 2. This spring serves to hold the bar normally in the locking po- Release may be effected by pressingthe treadle, whereupon the back may be swung about the pivots 1.

When pressure is removed from the treadle,

the spring again throws the member. 14c into locking engagement with theplunger 10.

The member 14 is a rigid arm projecting upwardly from the rear portion of the treadle-bar 14, and is, in effect, a mutilated nut which normally engages the screwthread with which the plunger 10 is provided. The threaded plunger 10 is, in effect, a rack which is adapted to control the posi-- tion of the yoke 8 and through the medium thereofthe position of the back B.

The construction describedis simple and thoroughly adapted to its purpose. Such a construction provides for faster adjustment of the back and securing locking of the back in any position of adjustment. The construction is durable and inexpensive.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Inastructure of the character set forth: a body structure comprising a seat-member and arms rising above said seat-member; a back pivotally connected with said arms and having arms extending below the plane of said seat-member; a guide-platefixedly secured to and depending from said seat-member, a plunger working through said guide; links connecting said plunger with the arms of said back; and a spring-held pivotally supported treadle having a locking-member provided with a toothed bore adapted to lock said plunger in position, said bore being recessed to permit the toothed portions of the bore to be withdrawn from the locking position when the treadle is depressed.

2. In a structure of the character set forth: a body structure equipped with a seat-member; a guide depending from said seat-member; a threaded plunger extending freely through said guide; a co-acting locking-member pivotally connected with said guide and having a tapped bore, therethrough, said bore being provided with recesses permitting swinging of the locking-member to effect release from locking-engagement; a treadle bar extending forwardly from said lockingmember; and a spring serving to hold said locking-member normally in the locking position.

3; In means ofthe character set forth: a supporting member having a guide-passage therethrough; a serrated plunger working freely through said passage; and plungerlocking means comprising a pivotally mounted, spring-held member provided with an aperture through which said plunger extends, said aperture having a toothed portion normally engaging the serrations of said plunger be'ef'fected.

4:- A plunger-locking device comprising: a

supporting plate having a depending flange provided with a guide opening; a serrated plunger extending freely through said guide opening; a locking-member pivoted on said supporting plate having an aperture provided with serrations to engage and lock said plunger normally, said aperture being recessed to permit said locking member to be swung out of engagement and thereby release the plunger and said locking member having an extension forming an operating lever; and a spring connected to said lever to hold it in a locking position.

5. A plunger locking device comprising: a supporting plate having a tubular depending flange provided with a guide-passage; a threaded plunger extending freely through said guidepassage; a locking member pivoted in said tubular flange having an aperture formed by two intersecting holes, one of said holes having threads engaging the plunger-threads and the other hole affording a recess permitting said locking member to be disengaged from the plunger-threads, said locking member having an extension forming a treadle; and a spring connected to said treadle to hold it yieldingly in looking posi- 

